Prelims Current Affairs includes Parvati–Arga bird sanctuary declared eco-sensitive zone, Right to passport, Israel peace prize announced for Donald Trump, Nitrate contamination, Somaliland, ‘Green to gold’ initiative, Industrial hemp.

ENVIRONMENT

1. PARVATI–ARGA BIRD SANCTUARY DECLARED ECO-SENSITIVE ZONE

Current Context: The Government has declared the Parvati–Arga Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh as an Eco-Sensitive Zone.

ABOUT PARVATI–ARGA BIRD SANCTUARY

• Location: It is located in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh.
• Wetland Type: It is a permanent freshwater ecosystem consisting of two oxbow lakes – Parvati and Arga.
• Ramsar Status: It is a designated Ramsar Site.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Fauna:

• Critically endangered White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
• Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus)
• Endangered Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
• Invasive Species: Common water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Flora:

• Vegetation typical of the Indo-Gangetic ecosystem.

WHAT IS AN ECO-SENSITIVE ZONE (ESZ)?

• Also Known As: Ecologically Fragile Areas
• Notified By: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• Location: Declared around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

POLITY & CONSTITUTION

2. RIGHT TO PASSPORT

Current Context: The Supreme Court of India ruled that facing criminal proceedings does not automatically disqualify a person from holding or renewing a passport.

CASE BACKGROUND

• The ruling came in Mahesh Agarwal vs Union of India.
• The petitioner was facing criminal proceedings including a coal block case.
• Passport renewal was denied despite conditional court permissions.

KEY SUPREME COURT OBSERVATIONS

• Personal liberty is not a gift of the State, but its primary obligation.
• Restrictions on liberty must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate.
• Denial of passport must be based on clear statutory grounds.

CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS

• Article 21 guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.
• Right to travel abroad forms part of personal liberty.
• Any restraint must serve justice, public order, or national security.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. ISRAEL PEACE PRIZE ANNOUNCED FOR DONALD TRUMP

Current Context: Israel announced that former US President Donald Trump will be conferred the Israel Prize for Peace after bilateral talks in Florida.

KEY FACTS

• The announcement was made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• It marks the first time the prize is awarded to a non-Israeli citizen.
• The Peace category was enabled for award after a rule amendment in July 2025.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Recognises Trump’s role in Middle East diplomacy and Israel’s security.
• Reflects a rare diplomatic and symbolic gesture by Israel.
• The prize has an 80-year history.

SCIENCE

4. NITRATE CONTAMINATION

Current Context: Over 20% of groundwater samples in Delhi exceeded nitrate limits in 2023.

ABOUT NITRATE

• Compound of nitrogen and oxygen.
• Found naturally in soil, water, air, and food.
• Widely used in fertilizers and food preservation.

IMPACT

• Health: Causes methemoglobinemia, especially in infants.
• Environment: Leads to algal blooms and oxygen depletion in water bodies.
• Sources: Fertilizer runoff, manure, wastewater discharge.

PLACE IN NEWS

5. SOMALILAND

Current Context: Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state.

ABOUT SOMALILAND

• Location: Horn of Africa
• Capital: Hargeisa
• Coastline: Along the Gulf of Aden
• Status: De facto independent since 1991

GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMY

• Bicameral legislature with House of Elders (Guurti).
• Own currency, constitution, judiciary, and security forces.
• Economy based on livestock exports.
• Port: Berbera Port—key trade hub for Ethiopia.

HIMACHAL NEWS

6. ‘GREEN TO GOLD’ INITIATIVE

Current Context: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has launched the ‘Green to Gold’ initiative to make the state self-reliant by 2027 by legalising and regulating industrial hemp cultivation.

ABOUT ‘GREEN TO GOLD’ INITIATIVE

• It is a new policy initiative of the Himachal Pradesh government.
• It focuses on legalising and regulating industrial hemp cultivation.
• It aims to build a hemp-based bio-economy in the state.
• It seeks to transform hemp from an illicit crop to a regulated industrial resource.
• The target period is 2027–2032 for full-scale economic impact.

CORE OBJECTIVES

• To shift Himachal Pradesh from an image of illegal cannabis cultivation to a regulated industrial hemp hub.
• To integrate the state into global bio-economy value chains.
• To support Aatmanirbhar Himachal by 2027.
• To make Himachal one of India’s most prosperous states by around 2032.

7. INDUSTRIAL HEMP

Current Context: Himachal Pradesh has initiated a policy push to legalise and regulate industrial hemp cultivation.

ABOUT INDUSTRIAL HEMP

• Scientific Name: Cannabis sativa L.
• Nature: It is an herbaceous, dioecious plant.
• THC Content: Contains less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
• Difference from Marijuana: Hemp is non-psychoactive and used for industrial purposes.

APPLICATIONS OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP

• Fibre Uses: Textiles, paper, upholstery, ropes.
• Industrial Uses: Biofuel, auto parts, building materials, hempcrete.
• Seed Uses: Food products, animal feed, oils, cosmetics.
• Environmental Benefit: Low-input, climate-friendly crop supporting sustainable development.

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